This sent by the publisher:

Promise Boys is a debut YA thriller by writer-filmmaker, Nick Brooks in which three boys at an urban charter school investigate their principal’s murder during a high-stakes 24-hour day. It is a page-turning, murder mystery thriller that shines a light on themes of social justice and educational inequities, shaping this novel to be both a commercial and literary blockbuster.

Prior to becoming a filmmaker, Brooks worked as an educator with at-risk youth, and Promise Boys reflects his firsthand experience at how the system can condemn these boys to failure before they’ve even had a chance at success, despite the media fanfare often awarded to urban academies.

“Promise Boys is a classic whodunit that mystery fans will love. But even more than that it’s a social thriller, told through the perspective of Black and Brown boys, that highlights the inequity in our education system,” said Brooks. “This is a story that needs to be told, to speak for our kids who far too often are unable to advocate for themselves and to inspire them to tell their own story."

An essential book for today's reader, that also has the potential to be an influential part of the literary canon for decades to come.

ABOUT Nick Brooks is an author and award-winning filmmaker from Washington, DC. His short film, HOOP DREAMIN’, earned him the George Lucas Scholar Award, and was a finalist in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Film Fest. He is currently in development for his first feature film, WE WERE BORN KINGS, with Mandalay Pictures.

As a storyteller, Nick strives to tell heartfelt tales that are socially relevant and inspiring. Before becoming a filmmaker, Nick was an educator working with at-risk youth and many of his stories are colored by his experiences with the children and families of his community. He loves hip-hop driven content, themes of coming-of-age and genre bending concepts.

Author and award-winning filmmaker, Nick Brooks, hails from Washington, DC. He's a 2020 graduate of the University of Southern California's TV and Film Production program, earning both the prestigious George Lucas Scholar Award and the James Bridges and Jack Larson Award for Writing and Directing.

In 2022 he published his first middle grade novel, NOTHING INTERESTING EVER HAPPENS TO ETHAN FAIRMONT, the first book in a three-book series.

Truly a multihyphenate, Nick writes and records hip hop under the moniker Ben Kenobe and is most noted for working with G.O.O.D Music artist, Tony Williams. He recently acted as Lyricist for the rap film, THE CYPHER, executive produced by Ben Corey Jones. The film made its world premiere at the2020 Tribeca Film Fest and was acquired by HBO.

THIS TOUR IS SPONSORED BY THE PUBLISHER, MACMILLAN

"Thrilling, captivating, and blade-sharp. Promise Boys will stay with you long after the last page." ―Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying

"The path to manhood has never felt more ominous than it does in PROMISE BOYS. I was at the edge of my seat trying to figure out if I was reading a story about boys becoming men or boys becoming killers―you will be too. A brilliant pulls-no-punches mystery with bruised hearts at its core." ―Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of They Both Die at the End

"There's nothing like a book that manages to flawlessly thread subtle social commentary through a propulsive plot carried by complex characters. I can't wait to see this expertly crafted mystery take the world over." ―Nic Stone, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Dear Martin

“Nothing short of astounding. A spellbinding, propulsive mystery while simultaneously presenting a searing critique of structural injustice. I recommend it to anyone who loves books or doesn’t.” ―Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of The Serpent King and In the Wild Light

"An edge-of-your-seats, street-smart, exploding-with-talent novel.” ―Francisco X. Stork, author of On the Hook

*"A top-notch page-turner and deep character study . . . will grip readers, who won’t want to stop reading." ―Booklist, starred review

* "Breathtakingly complex and intriguing." ―Kirkus, starred review

* "Brooks excels in creating protagonists worthy of applause and truly foul villains, whose presences linger long after this atmospheric read ends." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Heartbreaking and riveting in equal measure." ―The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Builds to an exhilarating crescendo." ―Horn Book

Axios:

Writer and D.C. native Nick Brooks signed a seven-figure book deal for his young adult thriller novel "Promise Boys."

The book is about a group of D.C. charter school students who investigate their principal's murder.

Brooks, who's also a filmmaker and now lives in L.A., says he drew from his experience as a teacher in Southeast while writing the book. The D.C. native says he loved mystery books as a kid, from The Hardy Boys to Agatha Christie.

In addition to being an entertaining mystery novel, he wants to use "Promise Boys" to show some of the shortcomings of the education system and their long-term impacts on kids of color.

“Institutions that claim to put students first were constantly putting them last,” he tells Axios of his experience as a teacher.

The novel is for anyone who likes to read, Brooks says, but he specifically wants young Black kids in D.C. to see themselves and their culture reflected in the novel.